The Souris Valley Golf Course was open for business Wednesday, a sure sign of spring and a sign of ongoing recovery from the devastating Souris River flood of 2011.
Golfers will notice significant changes, though, since the flood caused an estimated $2.3 million to $2.8 million in damage to the course. There are some original holes that will be used, according to golf pro Steve Kottsick, while the rest of the course that opened yesterday will consist of makeshift holes. Golfers seeking tee times will actually get two of them, one to play their first nine holes, and one to play a second nine holes.
It's not perfect, obviously, but it is golf. And after last year's flooding disrupted every course in the area, having even a smaller, makeshift course open again is most welcome, indeed.
Certainly Minot and its residents have much work ahead of them in recovering from the flood. Recovery won't be accomplished overnight, and Souris Valley Golf Course is no different. There will be difficult decisions to be made concerning the course's future, whether that's in the course's current location or somewhere else.
But for now, the fact that golfers have somewhere to go to take advantage of the unseasonably warm March weather is exciting. Fore!